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Senate bill would sanction corp. execs who hide product dangers

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) have introduced a bill (S. 2615) that would criminalize a responsible corporate officer’s concealment of a corporate action or product that poses a danger of death or serious physical injury to consumers and workers. The “Hide No Harm Act of 2014” would impose a prison term of up to five years and fines on a corporate employer, director or officer who knowingly violates the law. According to Sen. Blumenthal, “This measure would criminally punish corporate officials who conceal that a product is dangerous. Penalties for severely risking consumers’ lives or health should be more than money paid by the corporation, in effect the cost of doing business.” See Sen. Richard Blumenthal News Release, July 16, 2014.